*Sanctions three VPs for alleged indiscipline

The Kwara State government yesterday said it has shut ten private schools for operating illegally. It added that in the last five months, it had sanctioned some teachers, including three vice principals in one of the state-owned secondary schools, for alleged indiscipline and truancy.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Alhaji Musa Yeketi spoke during a ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

He said the 10 schools were in Ilorin West Local Government Area alone. "The rate at which private schools are springing up is alarming and we have started closing those without approval. This morning (yesterday), our teams went out again". He added that the move does not negate government's desire to partner the private sector in the educational development of the state.

Alhaji Yeketi said towards improving the standard of education, his ministry is finalising arrangements for an education summit before the end of the year, saying any move towards tackling the challenges in the sector must involve parents, teachers and the government.

The summit, he said, would build on the recommendations of a previous one held by the preceding administration, noting that the ministry was ready to improve on teachers' discipline.

"The difference between private and public schools is monitoring, and we have started that in three councils - Ilorin West, Ilorin East and Asa. Our discoveries during the period include the need for better facilities in the schools and the bad attitude of teachers.

"For example, we visited Agbeyangi secondary school twice, and on the two occasions, only 19 of the 34 teaching staffs were on ground; the three Vice Principals were not even around. Those culpable have been rightly sanctioned and with the monitoring, the teachers are on their toes."

Yeketi hinted that plans were on to train 250 teachers in entrepreneurship in conjunction with the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.